25 Days of Bond (Day 24)

You know when a movie trailer looks so good you think it will be the greatest thing to hit theaters that year, but then you see the full film and it disappoints. That's what Spectre did. It looked phenomenal in the previews and had fans going crazy with expectations, but ultimately it made a few too many mistakes and just didn't deliver on what was promised in the trailer.

1. The opening long take (with some disguised cuts hidden in the right places) in the pre-title sequence is a thing of beauty, not only because of the unique filmmaking technique, but also the countless extras in amazing costumes, a recreation of Mexico's Day of the Dead festival, and the impressive stunt flying.

2. Speaking of that stunt helicopter, it is incredible what they do with that machine and watching Bond fight off two opponents at the same time while keeping the helicopter from crashing makes for a fun watch. It is the combination of the opening long take, production design, and stunt work that helped seal this as my favorite pre-title sequence of the entire franchise. Although, after many viewings and the newness of the thing has worn off it might drop to number two on my list. We will see where it lands after I re-rank the franchise once I've seen No Time to Die.

3. This is the third time we've seen Bond's apartment, and a new one at that. I don't need to see where he lives in every movie, but it is always delightful when it happens.

4. Many fans hate the part when Bond escapes the villainous organizations meeting in Rome and subsequent car chase through empty streets. Considering it is essentially an information dump done in an interesting way, I don't mind it at all. I also think that when the music hits its zenith and Bond's Aston Martin DB10 and Mr. Hinx's Jaguar C-X75 are cruising through the square it is a magnificent moment.

5. When Bond meets with Mr. White it is a reunion I've been wanting for since Quantum of Solace. The brief scene in Quantum of Solace between the two of them left fans wanting more and this is a great follow up to that moment. How can you not love it when Mr. White says, "You're a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr. Bond."

6. "A license to kill is also a license NOT to kill."

7. Meeting Dr. Madeleine Swann shows that Daniel Craig's Bond can be playful and fun. It isn't all doom and gloom in his films. She is also a well-written, fleshed out character for a Bond girl. I recognize the complaints about how quickly she and Bond fall in love, but it does also make sense that she would understand a man like him and find comfort in that kind of relationship. I don't mind at all how the writers handled the two of them and am happy to see her return for No Time to Die.

8. This is the best train fight since From Russia with Love. Mr. Hinx is a bull in a china shop as he manhandles Bond from car to car. By the end of it you can truly believe how exhausted and beaten 007 is.

9. Another argument I don't agree with other fans about is the escape from Blofeld's crater hideout. Most complain it feels like a sequence from a video game. My takeaway from the sequence is how awesome Bond is in taking out the unnamed goons. As each target gets farther and farther away 007 has to change his shooting stance in order to better aim. I get that he just went through torture and is supposed to be half-beaten, but I also just don't care and like watching him be the superior marksman.

10. There are very subtle nods to Ian Fleming's short story "The Hildebrand Rarity" and Kingsley Amis's continuation novel Colonel Sun. The best Easter eggs are the ones that aren't obvious, and these definitely fly under the radar for people who aren't familiar with the literary character.

11. How this movie ends with Bond and Madeleine driving off into the overcast London sunset is actually a great way to end Craig's tenure. It wasn't known if he would return for another movie, so finishing things up in an ambiguous way as to make the viewer question if he has left the service entirely or is just going on holiday with his new love is fine. I had always been under the assumption that he left MI6 completely behind because it was a more final way of ending things for this Bond and the way Q says, "Bond, I thought you had left." This version of Q nearly always calls him 007, not Bond. So by calling him Bond instead of his code name it made me believe he had quit. I feel justified in this line of thinking with how No Time to Die is expected to start.

25 Days of Bond (Day 23)

We are so close. Only two days to go and we will have a new Bond movie in the franchise. After seeing the first trailer for No Time to Die I was expecting it to be the best film in the series since From Russia with Love. I've since decided to temper my expectations and then I started believing it to be the best since Casino Royale. If it turns out to be anything as good as Skyfall I will be a happy fan (but in reality it could be the worst in the series and I'll still just be glad to have a new entry in the series).

1. We haven't had a pre-title sequence that tries to make the viewer believe Bond has died in a long time. I think the last one was You Only Live Twice.

2. The title song from Adele is exactly what you would expect. It has the classic bombastic musical tones of a Shirley Bassey/John Barry style from the Goldfinger days, but modernized for a 21st century audience. It is incredible and absolutely deserved the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a first for the Bond franchise to win.

3. "Then why do you need me?" "Every now and then a trigger has to be pulled." "Or not pulled. It's hard to know which in your pajamas."

4. Sam Mendes is one of the more famous directors to ever helm a Bond movie and his aesthetic traits can be seen in certain shots throughout the movie. One of these that is a real standout is the footage of the city of Shanghai as it combines with the music to make a great union of sight and sound.

5. My favorite sequence is the silhouette fight between Bond and Patrice in the skyscraper office. Even the buildup to the fight is great as Bond is trying to sneak up on the assassin by staying in the shadows and reflections of the glowing neon outside the building. Even though you cannot really tell which character is which since it just two black figures in hand-to-hand combat, you still can't help but be impressed with what is on the screen.

6. And another beautiful combination of visual and artistic style is when Bond is floating into the entrance of the Macau casino. The fireworks going off above, the floating lanterns, and the illuminated dragon make for a compelling location that I wish existed in real life. Unfortunately, the Golden Dragon Casino is only a creation of the production team at Pinewood Studios.

7. Berenice Marlohe is just stunning. I don't know if there are any other half French, half Cambodian and Chinese women in the world, but if there are I can't imagine they are as gorgeous as Miss Marlohe. Her character Severine doesn't last long in the film, but while she is onscreen your gaze is likely fixated on her.

8. What an entrance Silva makes. His opening monologue, and even the one later when he is imprisoned and explaining why he has done the things he's done, is compelling and one of the most memorable introductions to a Bond villain we've ever had.

9. Although a lot of people have complained about the convoluted plot and story conveniences when it comes to Silva's escape, it still gives us a great sequence of Bond chasing him through the London underground as Q helps. This scene is particularly useful as it not only is a fun action/chase moment, but it gives us some interplay and team building for Bond and the new Q. It sets up the development of a relationship that viewers had enjoyed where Q was always annoyed by Bond and Bond just kept at annoying him. Now we've seen the first hints at how this interrelation began.

10. While the silhouette fight between Bond and Patrice is my favorite scene, the shootout at the government inquest is Joanna's favorite, and honestly I can't say I blame her. The tension mounts, the music builds, Judi Dench reads poetry, and Bond comes in to save the day with some help from a few allies. Even the ingenuity of how he frees the hostages is quite original.

11. The return of the Aston Martin DB5! I don't care that it's featured too much in the Brosnan and Craig eras. I love that car and all of its magnificent toys.

12. Another complaint for some critics of this film is the Home Alone climax. I don't care that it feels like a ripoff of the Macaulay Culkin holiday classic. It shows 007's ingenuity and resourcefulness as he outwits Silva when outmanned and outgunned. Plus, who doesn't love watching Albert Finney blast away some faceless henchmen as he quips, "Welcome to Scotland."

13. This is a really small moment, but I have always enjoyed it. When Bond is running across the field of his ancestral home and he jump kicks a henchman in stride, it always makes me smile.

14. Javier Bardem's death scene is so freaking great.

15. The final scene of the new M and Bond in an office harkens back to the classic films where Bond is given an assignment as he sits across from his boss. Once Craig retires and we do another reboot of the franchise, I want to get back to Bond being given an assignment in M's office and we start off on our adventure.

25 Days of Bond (Day 22)

Since Quantum of Solace suffered from a Writers Guild of America strike while filming, I am going to treat this write-up in a similar fashion and give it a quick once over with no polishes.

1. Along with not having a team of writers available to work out the kinks of the story, the movie also suffers from being influenced heavily by the Jason Bourne series. The quick editing style does the movie no favors. However, even though some of the pre-title sequence can't really be understood without multiple viewings it is still a thrilling piece of action cinema. I also love how artsy it begins with the music building as the camera swoops across an Italian lake and flashes of the cars chasing one another are seen before we are inserted right into the middle of the chase. It is a nice cinematic flair from the director that makes the sequence stand out.

2. I'm not usually a fan of the location being flashed on screen as it should either be obvious from the coverage footage of the city or detailed in the dialogue. However, sometimes location titles are necessary in a movie. These are done in an interesting and artistic way, so it is the best possible situation for what we're given.

3. "It's time to get out."

4. The killing of Edmund Slate in Port-au-Prince is another failure due to the frantic editing style. However, after the killing as Bond is cleaning up, the camera keeps returning to Slate's lifeless body and it is a reminder to the viewer of the coldness and brutality it takes to be in Bond's profession. He ignores what has just taken place and is simply moving on with his duty, but we keep coming back to the horrific look on Slate's face as he realizes the final moments of his life slipping away.

5. Tanner is back again and here to stay for the next three movies as well. He becomes a permanent member of the Scooby gang at MI6. There are little hints in this film that he and Bond are close. The best moment that reflects this is when M is interrogating Bond about the recent killing of Slate, Tanner interrupts and changes the subject in order to deflect from Bond's reckless behavior.

6. Director Mark Forster definitely tried to sprinkle his artistic style throughout this movie and it is unfortunate he was dealt a bad hand with the writer strike. However, where you can see some of his creativity working well is during the Tosca scene. As Bond is spying on members of the villainous group we get some intercutting with the Italian opera and the edits continue even when the henchmen are chasing Bond backstage and through the building. It is similar to the shot in You Only Live Twice where the camera pulls back to reveal Bond being chased along some rooftops instead of trying to show another fight sequence that we've seen so many times. In Quantum of Solace we hear the operatic music and get shots of the performance among those of Bond being pursued. It is a fascinating technique that I think works.

7. Another Bondian-trope that is turned on its head is the fight between Bond and main villain Dominic Greene. After establishing how great of shape Bond is in during Casino Royale the filmmakers couldn't really make us believe that Greene would be a physical match for Bond. However, during the climactic battle they do still make it an interesting fight as Greene goes berserk with an axe. I assume it is hard to combat an opponent when they have no style at all and are just flailing about.

8. I really wish the writers strike had not taken place during the making of this movie as I feel that one particular scene that, as it stands now, is pretty good could have been exceptional with a few re-writes. It is the one where Bond is comforting Camille in the burning hotel room as they think they are about to die. Her backstory, which isn't touched upon quite enough to drive the point home, involves her being the sole survivor when as a child her family was attacked, raped, and killed and her home set ablaze. She obviously has some serious trauma and pyrophobia and she keeps mumbling to Bond, "Not like this." You can see Bond contemplating shooting her to put her out of her misery and at the last second he sees a way out. Some additional work from the writers would have made this an outstanding display for Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko's talents.

25 Days of Bond (Day 21)

We have reached the point in the series where Daniel Craig takes over as 007 and the franchise begins a story and character arc very much intertwined among the star's films, which is not something previously done for Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, or Brosnan. Casino Royale is a near perfect movie for fans of this franchise and after 15 years of letting it resonate with me I have a hard time keeping it as my third favorite in the series. It is many fans' number one favorite and I could see myself eventually succumbing to that line of thinking as well.

1. Having the pre-title sequence shown in black and white is such an interesting choice. It creates a certain ambiance and sets a tone for what is to come, while at the same time giving us the unnecessary, but intriguing, history of how Bond receives his double-oh status. Fans of the literary character know that it takes two kills to get a license to kill with her majesty's government and having to see the brutality and coldness of those two kills is an incredible start to the movie.

2. The first time I saw Casino Royale's title sequence I didn't particularly like it, but I have since realized it was because I was so thrown by the greatness of the pre-title sequence that I wasn't ready for another drastic departure to what I was used to. I now recognize what a unique visual the animated sequence is as Chris Cornell's rocking theme song plays over the titles.

3. The parkour chase sequence is a highlight of the movie and my favorite sequence. Besides just being an immensely entertaining and re-watchable scene, it also displays, along with other parts to come later in the movie, how Bond is not really the best at his job just yet. He makes a lot of mistakes along the way to becoming the heroic spy we've come to love.

4. Despite the character being portrayed by Judi Dench still, this Bond's M is a different person than what we got with Pierce Brosnan. She is still a strong woman in power who doesn't comprise, but she is more of a mentor/motherly figure to this Bond than she was with Brosnan's 007. Craig's character, while respecting her more over the course of the later movies, certainly defies this boss more than any other Bond has before, which is a big regret with many fans and the reason for their disdain in regard to Craig's tenure.

5. "So you want me to be half monk, half hitman."

6. The Miami Airport chase is just a thing of beauty. It plays out so well and like the parkour chase sequence is utterly re-watchable time and time again.

7. The conversation aboard the train between Vesper and Bond when they meet is probably the best writing in the entire series. Their interplay and back-and-forth banter with one another is fantastic. It is the greatest introduction to a Bond girl since Ursula Andress on the Crab Key beach.

8. That Aston Martin DBS is gorgeous. It is a funny coincidence that Joanna pointed out a white version of this car in the Six Flags parking lot this afternoon as we were leaving the park.

9. Rene Mathis is a literary character who shows up in several of the Ian Fleming novels and some of the continuation novels. He isn't necessarily a standout character by any means, but has always been an ally to Bond. It was great to finally get a version of the character in a film and Giancarlo Giannini is a pleasure to watch.

10. She is the woman who molds Bond into the cold-blooded, womanizing character we know. Vesper Lynd ranks alongside Tracy di Vicenzo as most influential Bond girls of all time and Eva Green hits every right note needed in the performance.

11. As a regular poker player the scenes involving Texas hold'em are really well done and fun to watch for viewers of all familiarity with the game, but there are some small things that annoy me throughout the film. The way they handle the chips and plaques are not acceptable in a real game and the way Bond wins and loses certain big hands aren't great examples of showing whether he is proficient at the game. They would be played in the same manner by people with a minimal skill set at poker.

12. I'm sure it is annoying at this point for me to just keep saying how great this scene is and that scene is, but when a movie is this good that's kind of all I can do. That being said, the stairwell fight is so good. Bond and the machete-wielding killer give it their all as they punch, fall, and slice their way down the stairs all while Vesper is just trying to get away, but she eventually gets caught up in the fight and has to take action, which is something she never expected to be a part of in her life and has a lasting impact on her.

13. Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter is the greatest actor to ever play the role. I was so happy to hear he would be returning in Quantum of Solace, but the writers ended up not utilizing him in the way we are accustomed to. Then he is only referenced in Spectre. I'm hoping we get a really good scene between Bond and Felix in the upcoming No Time to Die.

14. It is a testament to the greatness of this movie in that I am finally getting around to Le Chiffre. Mads Mikkelsen was unknown to me at the time this movie was released, but since then I've seen several of his films and he, like Jeffrey Wright, is one of the greatest actors to appear in a Bond film. And on top of that, we get a physical deformity with the blood tears, which isn't overplayed for laughs but just is added to make the character a little more menacing.

15. As much as I love the Aston Martin DBS, I also love the barrel roll stunt that destroys it. The original plan was to only have the car flip over one time, but ended up sending it into a seven-roll spin, which set a world record.

16. No previous Bond movie could have had a torture scene like the one we got with Craig. If there was any doubt about this new actor bringing a harder edge that we hadn't seen before (Timothy Dalton notwithstanding) this scene was proof of that.

17. Well, what do I say about the betrayal and death of Vesper. Even after 25 viewings it is conflicting for me. I'm with Bond when he states at the end of the film, "the bitch is dead," which is taken directly from the source novel. However, seeing her drowning and Bond's subsequent attempt to revive her brings up all the feelings.

18. Yet, it is the impact of Vesper's influence and death that transforms Bond into the man we meet in Dr. No and his introduction to Mr. White is the perfect way to end this film.

25 Days of Bond (Day 20)

This is going to be another short one with not much thought or effort put into it since that is what the writers and Pierce Brosnan did while making the darn thing. Die Another Day is half of a good movie and the other half belongs in the Razzie's Hall of Fame. Here is what's actually good about it.

1. I have given a lot of praise to the title sequences during Brosnan's run as Bon and while I don't like the actual theme and images shown in this title sequence I do like that they show part of the story during it. They've never done anything like that before or after and it happily distracts us from the stupid Madonna song and plethora of scorpions (its just too many scorpions being shown; we get it, they used scorpions on him during the torture).

2. Raoul the sleeper agent is a really cool bit. I don't necessarily think the character is all that memorable, but the idea of Bond activating a long-forgotten sleeper in Cuba was an interesting idea.

3. This is the 20th film in the series (like the title of this post references), so the producers wanted it to reference the other 19 films to have come before. Some are extremely obvious and annoying, while others are subtle and enjoyable. The ones that work I really like and wish they had tried as hard on all the others that are just, "hey remember this thing we did that was so much better the first time around."

4. November 22, 2002, is when I fell in love with Rosamund Pike. She is in my all-time favorites list of actresses and nearly 20 years later she looks just as gorgeous as she did when she graced the screen in this movie.

5. One nod to the literary world of 007 is when Bond duels Gustav Graves at Blades. This is a gentlemen's club we are introduced to in the novel Moonraker. This is the closest we've actually gotten to a cinema version of Moonraker as the movie with that title has nothing to do with the book other than using the villain's name. The sword fight at Blades is the best part of this movie. It is intense and shows off some creative swordplay.

6. "Hey boss. He beat your time."

7. Nearly everything in Iceland is horrific and unwatchable, however, the car chase with 007 and Zao is pretty great. It is fun to see the evil version of Bond get his own gadget-filled vehicle and they go at it.

25 Days of Bond (Day 19)

Among the Bond fan community this is an unpopular opinion, but I rank The World is not Enough a lot higher than most people. I guess you could call it a guilty pleasure and it certainly has its problems (Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist being the most frequently mentioned), but it is a product of the times when 90s action films were completely over the top and put explosive action ahead of plot coherence or character development. Also, what this movie gets right it does really well. Here is what I like about The World is not Enough.

1. While most of the action in this movie feels like the writers developed first and then figured out ways to get the characters in position for said moments, the one sequence that works perfectly is the boat chase on the Thames in the pre-title sequence. Originally the titles were going to run after 007 made his escape in Spain, but the producers felt it wasn't a big enough stunt so they delayed the titles and included the exquisite boat chase in the pre-title sequence. Comedy and action intertwine throughout as Bond uses a prototype boat loaded with gadgets to chase down an assassin.

2. I've always been a fan of the band Garbage, so when they were selected to sing the film's theme song I was hoping for something modern with a classic Bond-theme feeling and in my opinion they delivered. The song has a dark and moody sound while being completely in the style of Garbage and Bond at the same time.

3. The images that go along with the theme song of naked women soaked in oil harkens back to the Maurice Binder classics like Thunderball.

4. While they didn't know this would be Desmond Llewelyn's final appearance in the franchise as Q, this is the perfect way for him to say goodbye. Llewelyn would end up dying in a car crash following completion of this film's production.

5. You rarely see one of Bond's quips undone, but when Brosnan tells the Parahawk driver who he thinks will fall to his death after steering off a snowy cliff that he'll "see him back at the lodge" and then a secondary parachute comes out, the disappointment on his face couldn't be any funnier.

6. The amount of bad acting that we get from Denise Richards is equally balanced out by a great turn from Sophie Marceau. In addition to being one of the most beautiful women to grace the screen as a Bond girl, Marceau's performance as the sexy, duplicitous Elektra King gives the best performance in the entire movie.

7. We get the return of Valentin Zukovsky! Other than Felix Leiter, very few allies get repeat appearances, but Zukovsky is absolutely deserving of that privilege.

8. It is a really nice touch putting a painting of original M actor, Bernard Lee, on the wall at the Scottish headquarters.

9. I have a soft spot for mystery plots in this franchise. I love it when Bond has to figure things out along with the audience and we get twists and turns throughout.

10. The title of the film and the way they use it in the movie is a great callback to the Bond family motto from On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

11. I know I already touched on Sophie Marceau and her powerful performance as Electra, but I also have to add that the scene when she has Bond in a torture chair is fantastic. She is doing a high-wire balancing act of sexpot and sociopath and pulls it off flawlessly.

12. "You wouldn't kill me. You'd miss me." ... "I never miss."

25 Days of Bond (Day 18)

I consider Tomorrow Never Dies to be a better action movie than Bond movie, which I'm sure is a weird thing to qualify since this franchise is made up of action movies. However, once you reach the midway point of the movie, the entire back half is one action set piece after another with very little downtime. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it just doesn't have the feel of most Bond movies and sort of becomes a generic 90s action flick after awhile.

1. There is nothing generic about that pre-title sequence though. It is one exciting thriller ride filled with quips, big explosions, intriguing stunts, a ticking clock, and unbelievable moments that remind the viewer why we love this franchise.

2. A lot of fans wish the original k.d. lang song "Surrender" had remained the title song instead of Sheryl Crow's theme, but I prefer Crow's song. There is just something about her melodramatic and bombastic singing combines with the guitars and strings. It has a sense of classic Bond theme modernized for 90s rock/pop audiences.

3. Jonathan Pryce is a highly respected stage and screen actor. His credits range from dramatic to black comedy starring roles, but in this as the primary villain, a sadistic media mogul, is absolutely bonkers.

4. The BMW 750i is not an attractive car. It looks like the vehicle of a successful marketing guy with a trophy wife, three kids, and is overextended at the bank. Yet, the gadgets that will be on full display in the parking garage chase are some of the most ingenious (and in one case most ridiculous) we've seen in the series up to this point.

5. I mentioned this in my Thunderball viewing, but I love when Bond antagonizes the villain during conversation with a double entendre.

6. I used to think composer David Arnold relied too heavily on the James Bond theme song in this score, but I have since realized he was making up for the horrendous Goldeneye soundtrack that had come before.

7. Dr. Kaufman is one of my favorite characters in the entire series. Every line and characteristic note is a winner. He also is part of my favorite line exchange in the film.

8. "I'm just a professional doing a job." "Me too."

9. Like I mentioned before, a lot of the action sequences run together near the end of the film, so I will combine these two as one great thing. Jumping from the top of the building using the banner of Carver's face is my favorite stunt in the movie and that leads directly into a unique motorcycle chase where a handcuffed Bond and Wai Lin have to work together to escape.

10. This movie was made at the peak of when there was a renaissance of Hong Kong martial arts featured in Hollywood movies as Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh were introducing us to some wild stunts and fight sequences. So it makes sense that they would give Yeoh her own scene to show off her skills as an action star. We also get some humorous moments as Bond realizes her safe house headquarters also doubles as their version of a Q lab.

11. We haven't had this in a while, but we close out the film with Bond and the main love interest together at sea ready to consummate their victory with a little private time.

25 Days of Bond (Day 17)

While I didn't know it at the time, Goldeneye was my first ever James Bond movie. I was 15 and had no clue who the character was or that there were 16 films to have come before this one. I was simply a teenage boy who loved movies and saw a preview for a cool 90s action film. It would be almost another two years before I became the mega-fan I am today, but this one has always been a top five entry in the series.

1. The bungee jump at the beginning of the pre-title sequence is a big enough stunt on its own to make this one a real winner, but then it wraps up with an unbelievable (and I don't care that how implausible it is) sequence of Bond riding a motorcycle off a cliff-side runway chasing an unmanned plane. The entire thing from beginning to end is riveting and even introduces us to a new actor playing Bond along the way.

2. A theme song written by Bono and The Edge, performed by Tina Turner, and played during one of the better title sequences of the franchise is the perfect return to a film franchise that had been dormant for six years (which at that point was the exception, not the rule). Regarding the title sequence, we still get the silhouetted nude girls dancing on screen, but it at least is done to a theme that matches the film's plot instead of just putting psychedelic lasers, neon nail polish, and gymnastic ladies bouncing up on the screen.

3. The DB5 is back! It becomes an all-too-common thing in the most recent movies, but at this point we hadn't seen the Aston Martin DB5 since 1965's Thunderball.

4. This movie is where 15-year-old me fell in love with Famke Janssen. Following her turn as femme fatale Xenia Onatopp I based my movie-watching habits on what her upcoming projects were.

5. Pierce Brosnan is such a charming guy in these movies. The story behind his casting is an interesting one as he was first discovered by producer Albert Broccoli when he visited the For Your Eyes Only set with his wife at the time, Bond girl Cassandra Harris. He then signed on to star in The Living Daylights but had to bow out after his contract with NBC was picked up for another season of Remington Steele. He finally landed the role in 1995 and in the first 30 minutes shows off his ability to deliver the one liners like Roger Moore and pull off the physicality of Sean Connery. I've always said his greatest strength, and at the same time greatest weakness, was that he seamlessly combined Connery and Moore into one portrayal. You got the best of both of those actors but also didn't really get to see Brosnan bring something new to the role.

6. Along with a new Bond we get a new headquarters, new M, new Moneypenny, and new Bill Tanner. All of them are welcome additions to the series and give us something we hadn't yet seen from these characters. Some fans are a little turned off by Moneypenny's talk of sexual harassment, but she does morph into the more likeable version of the character that fans had grown accustomed to with Lois Maxell as her tenure progresses.

7. But don't worry, not everyone is new to their roles. We get the same lovable Q and another familiar, but great, Q lab scene.

8. "Good, because I think you're a sexist, misogynist dinosaur. A relic of the Cold War, whose boyish charms, though wasted on me, obviously appealed to that young woman I sent out to evaluate you." "Point taken."

9. He only has one scene in this movie, but Robbie Coltrane kills it as Valentin Zukovsky. So much so that he worked his way into a return appearance two films later.

10. The abandoned statue graveyard is inspired set design work. Because of real-world tensions during the Cold War we hadn't seen much of Russia in the 007 franchise, but now that the Soviet Union had collapsed it was time to use the country as a location. The idea that all these Communist-based statues had been removed and placed somewhere to rot was a great one and I am so glad the filmmakers put Bond in this location.

11. Speaking of the filmmakers, the miniature work of Derek Meddings in this movie is incredibly unnoticeable, which means it works. He is an unsung hero of this movie.

12. The tank chase is the action set piece that everyone remembers from this movie. And the shot of the tank crashing through a wall behind the car Bond is chasing is an iconic moment that is consistently used in montages celebrating the franchise. Another great bit from this sequence is Brosnan fixing his tie after a particularly vicious crash, a move he would use again in a later movie. It is the equivalent to Roger Moore's raised eyebrow that he utilized so well throughout his tenure.

13. "Why can't you just be a good boy and die?" "You first. You ... second."

14. I love when a villain or henchman/henchwoman get hoisted by their own petard and Xenia certainly falls into that category.

15. The fight between Bond and Alec Trevelyan at the top of the satellite is what the showdown between Bond and Francisco Scaramanga should have been. It is two equals at the top of their game going toe to toe. While some of the hand-to-hand combat seems a little staged after multiple repeat viewings, the entire thing is nonetheless fantastic.

16. "For England, James?" "No. For me."

25 Days of Bond (Day 16)

License to Kill is a dark entry in the franchise that has Bond going rogue, which becomes a frequent theme in the Daniel Craig era. However, audiences weren't ready yet for a hard-edged Bond disobeying orders. It also didn't help that License to Kill opened in the same summer as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman, Lethal Weapon 2, The Abyss, Ghostbusters 2, Road House, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, The Karate Kid, Part III, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. It had stiff competition and got lost in the shuffle of action/adventure films that year. Despite all of this, Dalton's second outing has grown on me as I get older. It has a lot to offer and is unique in the series.

1. "What did he promise you? His heart? Give her his heart."

2. The pre-title sequence is an under-rated gem and it isn't even among the best stunts in this movie, but hooking a plane from a helicopter is a first in cinema as far as I am aware.

3. I respect a villain with a code of honor, even though that's not at all realistic. However, having Franz Sanchez put loyalty above money makes him certainly stand out in this franchise. He also has the best cabal of henchmen since Dr. Kanaga/Mr. Big, including a surprisingly funny Wayne Newton.

4. Speaking of those henchmen, having a young Benicio del Toro star as Dario is brilliant casting. Every scene he is in shows what a star in the making he is. I love his line delivery when he tells Felix about his recently deceased wife, "Don't worry, we gave her a nice HONEYMOOOOOOOOOON!"

5. And now that we have brought up Felix, it is really nice having an actor return to the role. I wish they had followed through with the Live and Let Die reunion and in addition to having David Hedison featured as Felix Leiter that they had brought back Quarrel Jr. since the character of Sharkey is clearly a stand-in for the familiar Felix/Bond ally. I assume killing off another Quarrel would have been too much for fans of the series.

6. The danger in bringing back a familiar Felix though is that his near-demise from the shark attack makes it so much worse. That sequence is lifted directly from the Live and Let Die novel, including the note left that says, "He disagreed with something that ate him." I love when they use Fleming's original material in the films.

7. Bond skiing barefoot behind the plane is my favorite part of this movie. It is a great stunt that is perfectly shot and after 20-plus viewings I still end up on the edge of my seat during this action sequence.

8. Dirty love!!! The song that plays during the bar brawl is so unashamedly 80s and Bond fans around the world celebrate it any time they can.

9. "I help people with problems." Problem solver." "More of a problem eliminator."

10. There is Q in the field and then there is Q in the field. Like he tells Bond, "Without Q Branch you'd have been dead long ago." It's also such a great touch how he just tosses the rake/radio into the bushes after so many previous movies where he asked 007 to return his equipment in pristine shape.

11. Even though the tanker trucks were highly modified to pull off the stunts they were involved in, I am still impressed with what we get onscreen. Each moment is topped by the next and it culminates in a perfectly fitting end for Sanchez. Giving a play by play of the 20-minute climax would be a disservice. Just go watch it for yourself and enjoy.

12. Last, but certainly not least is Timothy Dalton. I touched on this in my previous post about The Living Daylights and I won't add too much more, but Dalton was criminally underappreciated when starring as our favorite British spy. His short tenure has become more respected since Daniel Craig's take on the role has resonated with audiences in the new millennium. Dalton wanted to try and bring the literary character to the screen and make him more realistic. That is exactly what Craig has done in his stint and Dalton is even a better actor. I urge those who have liked the latest take on the character to go back and watch Dalton's two films.

25 Days of Bond (Day 15)

A new Bond with a new attitude. We only get two films from Timothy Dalton in the series and most casual moviegoers consider Dalton's era to be pretty forgettable, but hardcore fans of Ian Fleming's literary character really enjoy what Dalton brought to the role.

1. For the longest time my favorite pre-title sequence was from The Living Daylights. We get a group of 00 agents in a training exercise with intense action and the stunt work is nail-biting. It's one of the best introductions of an actor in the role and on any given day I teeter on this being my favorite pre-title sequence once again.

2. The sequence following the titles is straight out of the short story this movie's title is taken from and both are powerful pieces of spy craft storytelling.

3. For the first time since Dr. No we see a new actress in the role of Miss Moneypenny. This version is the least appreciated by fans as she is much too love struck with 007, but the interplay between Bond and M's assistant is always a highlight.

4. I love Necros posing as a milkman and infiltrating the MI6 safe house. Using milk bottles as grenades is brilliant. And we get to see some British agents who aren't 007 in action, which is rare.

5. Multiple Q lab scenes!

6. I've mentioned before how I love the Bond movies that include actual spy work and sleuthing. I tend to like the movies where the audience learns the plot at the same time Bond a little more than the formulaic ones. That doesn't mean I don't miss the good old days when Bond would get a mission from M in his/her office and be whisked around the world to bed beauties and blow a lot of things up along the way, but the mystery plots hold a special place in my heart.

7. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage was never my favorite vehicle in the series, but after such a long gap of not seeing any Aston Martins I forgot how much I really like this car. And the amount of amazing gadgets the vehicle has is great.

8. A magnificent car chase in the Aston Martin V8 Vantage leads into something never before seen as Bond and Kara elude police in a cello case while sledding down a mountain. It's creative and exciting. I can see this sort of idea being done when Roger Moore was still playing Bond with a lot more close-ups of Sir Roger in front rear projection, but Dalton's toughness gives the sequence a completely different feel than what Moore would have given done with it.

9. Bond and a Russian general team up for a fake assassination plot! When will the twists and turns end?

10. I'll talk more about him in the next film's write up, but Timothy Dalton is the best thespian we've had play James Bond.

11. "You were fantastic. We're free." "Kara, we're inside a Russian airbase in the middle of Afghanistan."

12. This is an interesting army-on-army finale since neither group is really working with Bond, but at the time this film came out the Russians were in a war with Afghanistan freedom fighters, who would eventually become the Taliban. While the politics of the movie haven't aged well, it is great to see another army fighting another army at the end of a Bond film.

13. I love the fight between Necros and Bond on the back of the airplane. The work that went into choreographing and executing that stunt is beyond belief. I know the Mission: Impossible film franchise has the edge when it comes to stunt work right now, but don't forget that there are some really great death-defying exploits in the 007 series as well.

14. This is the final score from John Barry for a Bond film. While we didn't know it would be his last at the time, it certainly is one of his best and a perfect one to bow out on.

25 Days of Bond (Day 14)

I'm not even going to come up with some snazzy introduction for this movie. I thought The Man with the Golden Gun was the worst this franchise had to offer. Boy was I mistaken.

1. The two previous actors to portray James Bond co-starred alongside women from the British television series The Avengers, and Roger Moore completed the trifecta with having Patrick Macnee as Bond's ally, Sir Godfrey Tibbett. Macnee is the perfect ally to Roger's aged spy as he is just as charismatic as Moore and doesn't ever threaten showing him up in the action sequences. Macnee's portrayal is perfect and it makes me want to watch The Avengers to see more of this gifted actor in his prime.

2. Roger Moore was 57 years old when this film was released in theaters. Any action sequences or stunts were going to obviously have to hide this fact by either hiding the stuntman with carefully placed camera angles or be something truly spectacular that another character takes part in. Luckily they came up with the Eiffel Tower parachute jump and it is an incredible feat of moviemaking. For the many faults I have with Moore's films, I will give him credit in that the stunts done in his movies were some of the best in the entire series.

3. Oh Stacey Sutton, how we loathe you and your exasperating screams. Tanya Roberts' portrayal of a state geologist makes Denise Richards' nuclear physicist deserve an Oscar (this is a reference you will get in five films). But boy is she pretty to look at.

4. Christopher "freaking" Walken is a Bond villain! That's all I've got to say about that.

5. "The bubbles tickle my ... Tchaikovsky!"

6. Everything about the climactic battle atop the Golden Gate Bridge is perfect. The action beats are exciting. John Barry's music is spectacular. Walken's chuckles as he realizes his fate is Joker-esque. I even don't mind the rear-projection work going on as it is blends in well with the set built to stand in for the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is all done quite well and gives Moore a really great ending to go out on.

25 Days of Bond (Day 13)

We are officially more than half way through the marathon. There are some really good, even great, things about Octopussy, but it also has some truly awful bits that just ruins any chance of it being more than a mediocre Bond movie. It is my third favorite of Roger Moore's adventures, but since I've made it pretty clear how I feel about Moore's movies in general that likely tells you it isn't highly ranked.

1. Mischka and Grischka chasing 009 is an eerie beginning to the film that has some hints of the horror-like tone we saw when the dogs chased down Corinne Dufour in Moonraker. I also really like it when we get a reference to the other 00 agents working for MI6. In this sequence we actually get to see a 00 agent who isn't Bond, which is quite rare.

2. General Orlov is insane, and not just because he wants to start a war with the Western world. He is just truly off his rocker and every scene he is in has a heightened sense of insanity about it. The actor portraying Orlov, Steven Berkhoff, has the scenery-chewing dialed up to an 11.

3. Upon my first viewing of Octopussy I had no clue that the guy playing Vijay, Bond's ally in New Delhi, was a famous tennis player, so the jokes referencing the sport did not land with me. However, he is such a likeable guy I have always enjoyed the character.

4. We've seen Bond best people in gambling and we've seen him cheat cheaters while gambling, but it never gets old seeing him outduel a cheater while gambling. The backgammon scene is good on its own, but what makes it really stand out is when he rolls he is so confident that the loaded dice will work he doesn't even look as he claims his victory. It is a boss move!

5. I certainly enjoy the Bond movies that are spy-centric and this one falls into that category more than most of them. The plot gets a pretty convoluted and even after multiple viewings I'm still not 100% clear on who has real jewels and fake ones, but the twists and turns throughout the film make it a fun watch overall.

6. "You have a nasty habit of surviving." "You know what they say about the fittest."

7. Remember what I said about liking Vijay. That makes his demise so heart-breaking when he is slaughtered by the yoyo blades.

8. This is a extremely silly moment that you either love or hate. I happen to love it. When Bond looks at his watch in the gorilla suit it makes me laugh out loud every single time.

9. Bond getting revenge for 009 is a nice moment. Seeing Roger Moore get a little nasty is always welcome since he did it so rarely in his films.

10. The climactic battle where Bond is hanging on the plane as the villain and his henchman try to escape is possibly Moore's greatest finale. The one coming up in the next film certainly gives it a run for its money, but this one is rip-roaring and reminds me that Tom Cruise might have done the same stunt for real in the Mission: Impossible franchise (as opposed to Moore letting the stunt team handle it) but he didn't come up with the idea first.

25 Days of Bond (Day 12)

After a trip to space the producers course corrected the direction of the series and Roger Moore's fifth outing is a more grounded adventure with smaller stakes, and in all honesty the franchise was better for it.

1. Although the character of Bill Tanner, M's chief of staff, was onscreen but went nameless in The Man with the Golden Gun, this is the first onscreen portrayal of Tanner that the viewer actually gets to know. The literary character is Bond's best friend in the service and well-liked among fans. We will get two other actors in the role who do a much better job with the part later, but it is nice to see Tanner finally make an entrance in the film series.

2. After 11 movies of Bond driving fast cars and evading capture in gadget-laden vehicles, it is interesting to see this movie turn that trope on its head. When the viewer sees Bond running to his Lotus Espirit you expect another thrilling chase and new gadgets that Q has outfitted in the car. However, one of those gadgets, the burglary protection, results in Bond and Melina having to flee in a Citroen CV2. It's not the greatest chase scene in the world, but certainly gives us something new.

3. Another great Q lab scene and we get the introduction to lab assistant Smithers, who Star Wars nerds will know is played by Jeremy Bulloch, who is the man in the Boba Fett suit in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

4. Many fans have derided the character of Bibi Dahl for mostly good reasons, however, Lynn-Holly Johnson's portrayal is actually really good. She doesn't get much credit, but I like the skater-turned-actress' work in the role.

5. When Bond is at the top of the ski jump you can actually see he is fearful of what might happen. He doesn't have much of a plan in the moment and isn't sure how he is going to get out of this one. You don't often get to see Bond recognize the peril he is in and it shouldn't happen a lot, but when it comes along it is a welcome reminder that he is actually human and recognizes his mortality.

6. The raid on Kristatos' warehouse is a finely crafted action set piece, but the best part of it all is when Bond catches up to Locque and causes his car to veer onto the cliff's edge. The brutality of Bond in that moment is something Roger Moore didn't want to convey as he was not a violent man (ironic since he was playing the most famous secret agent in cinema history), but he and the director settled on having the car start to slip off when he throws the pin in the car and then stomps on the door to seal the henchman's fate.

7. While this is more behind-the-scenes trivia than actual movie enjoyment, the scenes with Carole Bouquet underwater are all done with movie magic as the French model and actress had sinus issues that resulted in her not being able to dive underwater. Any time you see a close-up of Bouquet underwater, it is a fake shot on a dry set.

8. Dragging Bond and Melina behind the boat is taken from the Bond novel Live and Let Die. It is much more gripping in the novel and Fleming gives the reader a glimpse into the thought process of Bond as he is expecting to die, but the filmed version is still good.

9. "Forgive me father, for I have sinned." "That's putting it mildly 007!"

10. My favorite part of this film is the climactic rock climb. It is beautifully shot, has some great thrills throughout, and shows that Bond can rely on his wits and ingenuity to survive when in a tight spot.

25 Days of Bond (Day 11)

Oh boy! What can I say, but James Bond goes to space. Well, let's get into it.

1. The movie version of Moonraker differs greatly from the source material in the novel and this is also true of the villain, Hugo Drax. In the novel he is boisterous, cheats at cards, and offends Bond on several levels of social conduct. In the film as portrayed by French actor Michael Lonsdale, Drax is cold, calculating, and a true megalomaniac. Some don't find the performance to be very good, but I love Lonsdale's choices to be subdued and completely in control at all times, at least until things start really falling apart for him at the end. He also has some of the best lines in the movie.

2. He also has the most well-trained dogs on the planet. They are a French herding breed by the name of Beaucerons and are only in two scenes, but they certainly make their mark on the movie.

3. "Look after Mr. Bond. See that some harm comes to him."

4. The pheasant shoot where Bond gets the best of Drax followed up by Corinne's death is certainly a highlight, but the tonal shift the movie takes in the latter part of the scene is so abrupt it makes you think you've stepped into a horror movie.

5. I think the glass museum fight between Bond and Chang is my favorite in the film, but upon repeat viewings the contrived choreography and weak fighting style of Sir Roger is just too easy to notice.

6. "Do you know him?" "His name's Jaws. He kills people."

7. "My God, what's Bond doing?" "I think he's attempting re-entry, sir."

25 Days of Bond (Day 10)

The Spy Who Loved Me is the 10th film in the series and after Harry Saltzman sold off his half of the partnership following the release of The Man with the Golden Gun, Albert "Cubby" Broccoli wanted to give audiences the biggest Bond film to date. In certain aspects he succeeded. The film is audacious in certain aspects, but at the same time it is a retread of what has come before. When broken down to its simplest form, The Spy Who Loved Me is a remake of You Only Live Twice with certain elements tweaked. Both films were directed by Lewis Gilbert and before some legal issues regarding the rights to the Blofeld character caused the writers to make a change, Stromberg was going to be the leader of SPECTRE.

I used to enjoy this movie more as a younger fan of the series, but the more I've watched it and the older I get the farther it falls down the rankings. I feel bad for the shade I throw at Sir Roger Moore's Bond movies, but his take on the role has never resonated with me. That being said though, I still respect what Broccoli, Gilbert, and Moore did with this movie and the parts I do like, I really like.

1. This pre-title sequence is in my top five of the series and it has the greatest payoff of all of them. We start with a (mostly) exciting ski chase as the music gets funky with the disco rhythm of "Bond 77" playing throughout. This leads us into one of the most rousing stunts of the series that is a complete surprise for first-time viewers. Then we end with the beautiful opening piano of "Nobody Does it Better," the film's theme song.

2. Carly Simon's power ballad is my favorite theme song that is not an instrumental. The top of my rankings are "The James Bond Theme", the "On Her Majesty's Secret Service Theme," and then it's "Nobody Does it Better." It might be the first song to play during the opening credits about the franchise's hero (which this is up for debate since nobody is sure who Tom Jones is singing about in Thunderball), which is incredible as its the 10th movie in the series.

3. Another remnant of the Lewis Gilbert movie that came first, but Stromberg's underwater lair Atlantis is similar to the hollowed-out volcano from You Only Live Twice. While not as incredible as the volcano or even as great as a later set piece built in the largest "silent stage" at the time, it is still an iconic villainous lair that has influenced future films in other action series and been mocked in spy spoof films.

4. When he is first introduced and throughout most of the movie, Jaws is a menacing henchman that likely scares some viewers with how horrifying and powerful he is. When battling Bond and Anya Amasova in certain scenes you truly wonder how they will get the best of him, but the way the filmmakers and writers handle those escapes is what makes Jaws a less threatening henchman than someone like Donald "Red" Grant or Oddjob. It turns out that Jaws made such an impact with audiences the ending was changed to allow for the character to return in a future movie.

5. And yet another retread of You Only Live Twice, instead of Little Nellie we get Wet Nellie. The Lotus Espirit submersible vehicle is a great gadget-laden car and the payoff of it splashing into the sea is almost as great as when the car comes out of the water on the beach. The cherry on top of it all is Roger Moore dropping the fish out of the window (even though it doesn't make any sense as the car/submersible was air tight and any leaks would have been too small for the fish to enter).

6. The delivery from Roger Moore in the scene where he explains that he did in actuality kill Anya's lover in Austria is his best in the entire movie. His response is compassionate as he didn't enjoy what he did to someone she loved, but at the same time he explains the reality of their profession.

7. "What's the matter sailor? Never seen a major taking a shower before?"

8. And one last repeat of You Only Live Twice (Gilbert obviously knew where his strengths were), the big battle between Stromberg's men and the British, Russian, and American navies on the Liparus, which is that giant soundstage built for this movie specifically, is a great ending to the film.

9. I love the way Bond catches Jaws on the magnet and drops him in with the shark. It is an ingenious way to hoist him by his own petard.

10. "Bond, what do you think you're doing?" "Keeping the British end up, sir."

25 Days of Bond (Day 9)

This one is going to be short because I'm running late on my post and The Man with the Golden Gun is my least favorite in the series. There isn't a ton of points to make about what I like.

1. Definitely not a menacing henchman by any means, but Nick Nack is super fun to watch. The jovial nature of Nick Nack never makes you feel like Bond is in danger when Nick Nack is around, but you cannot help but smile when the character is onscreen.

2. "I mean sir, who would pay a million dollars to have me killed?" "Jealous husbands! Outraged chefs! Humiliated tailors! The list is endless!"

3. I am now aiming precisely at your groin. So speak or forever hold your piece."

4. The 1974 AMC Hornet X performing a corkscrew jump is one of the most incredible stunts in the franchise's history. It was done as a practical effect and is the first computer-modeled stunt in film history, meaning instead of figuring out the logistics of the ramp and how fast the car had to go by doing trial and error crash tests, the filmmakers used computers to model the stunt and figure out the correct angles when building the ramp and the correct speed the car needed to be traveling. We will leave it at that because if I get into the slide whistle sound effect that will ruin my emotional high after seeing that stunt performed.

5. I feel obligated to put something down just to get five great things about this movie, so I will say that the idea of Bond dueling another assassin is great. I don't think the execution is pulled off very well in this, but I like the shot of 007 and Scaramanga standing back to back.

25 Days of Bond (Day 8)

I have officially hit the one-third mark for existing films in the official franchise. I also received my Japanese-release No Time to Die single in the mail today. We are getting so close to a new Bond film in the world. I've been waiting since 2015 for this and am so excited.

Here is what's great about the eighth Bond film, Live and Let Die.

1. Although I am an American and live one state over from Louisiana, I have no idea if this is how New Orleans funerals are done. It is exciting and colorful. I hope they do actually celebrate a person's life in this manner instead of the dower black suits and moody music/eulogies of other locations around the globe.

2. Although we got a new actor playing 007 two movies ago, we get another new one after Sean Connery returned for a record-making payday in Diamonds are Forever. Roger Moore, while not one of my favorite portrayals of the character, was a fabulous man who loved playing the part of Bond and was the ultimate ambassador for the franchise after he left the series. He brought a lighter touch to the role and certainly stood apart from his predecessors.

3. Not since Dr. No have we seen Bond's flat. This new set gives us a little more lay of the land, but it is a short scene and other than hosting beautiful foreign female agents overnight we don't get much of Bond's home life.

4. John Barry is the king of Bond music, but getting a new composer is certainly welcome. Especially when it is the Beatles' producer. George Martin made a groovy soundtrack that incorporates some interesting musical beats that we probably wouldn't have gotten from Barry had he done the music for Live and Let Die.

5. Other than Jeffrey Wright playing Felix Leiter in a rebooted series that takes continuity much more seriously, only one other actor has portrayed Felix Leiter more than once. This is David Hedison's first appearance as the CIA ally and his humorous banter with Bond shows why the producers were willing to bring him back later.

6. "Hey man, for 20 bucks I'll take you to a Ku Klux Klan cookout."

7. Live and Let Die has the largest and most memorable rouge's gallery of henchman in a single film. Kanaga's posse is made up of Whisper, Tee-Hee, Baron Samedi, and Solitaire, all of whom have unique characteristics that make them stand out in the franchise.

8. Speaking of Solitaire, this isn't Jane Seymour's feature film debut, but she was only 21 at the time of filming. My wife knows her best from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, but I consider this movie to be her apex in fame (of course, I am a little biased).

9. For some of the problems this movie has (especially through the lens of 2021), action set pieces is not one of them. The bus chase that leads into the airport chase are super exciting, but it still isn't the best set piece of the movie.

10. That is reserved for the alligator escape and boat chase. I'm not even going to attempt to opine about this part of the movie. Just watch it and you'll see what I'm talking about it.

11. The 007 franchise has never delved into mystical themes, but when Baron Samedi shows up on the front of the train, it is a great tag at the end of the film that is similar to what the Marvel Cinematic Universe would consider a post-credits scene in its franchise.

25 Days of Bond (Day 7)

With the early departure of George Lazenby in the role of 007, who was signed on for a seven-picture deal but believed the hippie movement of the 1970s would kill the franchise, producers brought back Sean Connery hoping to recapture the old magic. Unfortunately Diamonds are Forever is the first stinker of the series in my opinion. Connery lacks the suaveness and ruthlessness of his previous outings, yet one thing that he does maintain is his charm in line delivery. One of this movie's greatest aspects is its one-liners. I've been including my favorite line from each film, but I just couldn't choose from the list in this one and added them all.

1. "Tell me, Commander, how far does your expertise extend into the field of diamonds?" "Well, hardest substance found in nature, they cut glass, suggests marriage, I suppose it replaced the dog as the girl's best friend."

2. "Weren't you a blonde when I came in?" "Could be" "I tend to notice little things like that - whether a girl is a blonde or a brunette." "And which do you prefer?" "Well, providing the collar and cuffs match."

3. It takes a bit to get to something visually interesting, but once it does it is the best fight of the movie. The elevator battle between Bond and Peter Franks is expertly choreographed and edited superbly. It builds the tension and gives the audience a real sense of confinement watching the two men fight in such a tight space.

4. "I didn't know there was a pool down there."

5. I've been to Las Vegas a couple of times and seeing what it looked like in the early 1970s is delightful. I can find familiar landmarks as Bond and Tiffany drive around the city, but at the same time I get to see the city at its pinnacle of cool.

6. The downtown car chase is a real highlight of the movie. Despite a little of it feeling over-choreographed (the parking lot sequence) and it ending on an editing continuity error, the entire thing is still quite thrilling.

7. "Thank you very much. I was just out walking my rat and I seem to have lost my way."

8. "Good morning, gentlemen. The ACME pollution inspection. We're cleaning up the world. We thought this was a suitable starting point."

9. One of the great things about this film series is it introduces American audiences to beautiful women from around the world, similar to the international locations being a draw for those of us who aren't globetrotters. So having an American actress in the role of the main Bond girl might be disappointing since, in theory, we would get to see her in other domestic movies of the era. However, Jill St. John is stunning. Her wardrobe is certainly one of the skimpiest in the series since she is introduced in a "nice little next to nothing" and spends the final battle in a bikini, but when you have a gorgeous woman like St. John I understand the choice.

25 Days of Bond (Day 6)

While On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one of my favorite Bond films, it is late as I type this and I am going to be a little more brief in each example of why this one is so great.

1. It took a few viewings for me to truly appreciate the editing style of this picture, but director Peter Hunt, who was an editor on previous movies in the franchise, really does a great job of amplifying the intensity of the action with his cuts and quick edits.

2. "This never happened to the other fella."

3. The entrance we get from Diana Rigg in that low cut dress in the casino is the first of several scenes where the viewer is just left speechless at her beauty and talent.

4. Only having starred as 007 in this one picture, it is unclear what George Lazenby could have become in the role to make it his own, instead of being known as the forgotten Bond. However, it is undeniable that his physicality in the fight sequences are unparalleled by any other Bond actor. And it isn't just the fight scenes that his brutality is on display. While hard to watch with 2021 eyes, the way he twists Tracy's wrist and disarms her is intense.

5. This is such a small touch, but on the way to Draco's office when Bond swings the gate hard back at the henchmen in an attempt to escape, even though it doesn't succeed it is a great character moment. It shows he is always searching for any opportunity to get an advantage on his adversary.

6. Speaking of Marc-Ange Draco, this is the other great Bond ally (not named Felix Leiter) who is constantly ranked at the top of favorite characters in the series. Other than Kerim Bey, there is only one other non-MI6 ally in the franchise who is as liked as Draco, and we will discuss him much later in this marathon.

7. Like Bond in a naval uniform, we don't often see 007's office. This is the first time we get a glimpse of what his work life is like when he isn't in the field saving the world.

8. I'm not that into the fashion of James Bond movies, but everything Tracy is seen wearing I consider to be fabulous. Her fashion sense is unmatched by every other Bond girl.

9. Speaking of Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, lots of actresses have told us how their Bond girl is different and a real equal to our hero, but when it comes to Tracy she actually delivers. Whether its her style, the way she drives a car, skis, fights, etc., she is just as superior as Bond at whatever she is doing. The fact that she can hold her own in any situation makes us believe that James Bond would actually fall in love with this stunning creature and give up his bachelor lifestyle.

10. While I enjoy the gadgets in other films, the fact that this one is gadget-free is quite refreshing. Any scrape 007 happens to find himself in results in him having to use his wits to get out of danger.

11. The ski escape from Piz Gloria isn't just my favorite skiing scene in the movie, but the entire series. I love how things keep getting worse for Bond with the number of armed thugs chasing him, his losing a ski, nearly falling off a cliff, and having to defend himself without a gun when he is in close combat with a henchman.

12. I've always liked the harshness and sound editing of the bell barn fight.

13. I know I've gushed about Tracy a lot already, but when she shows back up in that ice-skating outfit and then drives Bond to safety in the midst of an ice race it just reminds me of why she is the greatest female character in the series.

14. One of the quiet moments that I really like in this movie is when Bond and Tracy are in the barn and he proposes to her. He is willing to quit the service and start a family with this woman that he knows is one of a kind. Lazenby is truly the worst actor out of the six men to currently feature in the official series, but his performance in this scene is his best.

15. Another great ski sequence is when Bond and Tracy leave the barn. We get more confirmation of how much of an equal Tracy is to our hero.

16. Bond sliding and shooting on the ice during the raid on Piz Gloria is just the coolest thing. And how John Barry kicks the James Bond theme song in right at that moment is perfect.

17. Speaking of John Barry, pretty much all of his scores for the Bond series are great, but I think he did dig deep on this one to make sure the music was going to be phenomenal.

18. As if the Piz Gloria raid isn't great by itself, but they give us a spectacular bobsled chase/fight between Bond and Blofeld. I've seen this movie at least 20 times and I still am on the edge of my seat when it gets to that part.

19. One of the saddest moments of the entire series, when you see the bullet hole in the windshield and blood dripping down Tracy's forehead it's like a gut punch. I hate the scene, but at the same time I love it because it stirs so many emotions and to end an action movie on a downer like that is a really bold choice. It is extremely faithful to the novel in that respect, but I applaud the producers for not changing it to a happier ending just to placate the audience.

25 Days of Bond (Day 5)

We are a fifth of the way through our marathon and only three weeks away from the release of No Time to Die, but even a bigger achievement was my daughter Emery, who is 14, has now seen her first Bond film from start to finish. All three of my children have seen some scenes throughout their lifetimes, but Joanna and I have not yet allowed any of them to watch one in its entirety.

Emery's first of the series was You Only Live Twice. I've always enjoyed certain aspects of this movie, but it has never been one of my favorites. Here is what makes it worth watching over and over again for me.

1. Nancy's Sinatra's theme song has grown on me considerably as I've gotten older. Every time I re-rank the songs it sneaks up the list. Those opening strings are a thing of beauty and immediately the listener can visualize exactly where we will be for the majority of this film.

2. Bond's military service hasn't really been touched upon much in the films, but seeing him in his naval uniform is always welcome.

3. The fight in Osato's office is intense. The antagonist is a hulk of a man and seems like he truly wants to murder Sean Connery. It also turns out that the actor fighting Connery, Peter Maivia, is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's grandfather.

4. Tiger Tanaka is another great ally. He doesn't stick around from film to film like Felix Leiter and he isn't quite as delightful a sidekick as Kerim Bey, but Tanaka is certainly a fan favorite. So far he only has featured in one film, but his character has been seen in more than just Ian Fleming's novels. He made an appearance in a Raymond Benson continuation novel and has most recently been seen in a comic book spinoff featuring Felix Leiter.

5. I have always liked the way they filmed the Kobe Docks fight sequence. Instead of choreographing an elaborate fight between Bond and multiple henchmen that would include several cuts and special camera setups to allow for the punches to be staged well, they let the camera roll and pull back from the scene. It is a thing of beauty that combines well with John Barry's score.

6. Little Nellie is the highlight of the film for me and, as I already mentioned, Q in the field is one of my favorite things.

7. Production designer Ken Adams was given $1 million out of the $9.5 million budget to build his hollowed-out volcano set and what we get is worth every penny. It's become a Bond-ian trope to have the villain get some kind of elaborate secret lair and even Mike Meyers has made light of it with his Austin Powers films, but this is a thing of beauty.

8. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ernst Stavro Blofeld."

25 Days of Bond (Day 4)

We've reached the height of Bond-mania where lines outside the theater were wrapped around the block as everyone wanted to be a part of this thrilling franchise. When adjusted for inflation, Thunderball still holds the record for highest domestic box office. Here is what makes 007's fourth mission riveting.

1. We finally get to see the actor playing James Bond do the gun barrel sequence. Prior to this movie it was stuntman Bob Simmons.

2. The hand-to-hand fight in the pre-title sequence is exciting, even if the sped-up editing is a little jarring. Also, the jet pack is wonderful, but watching our hero have to put the helmet on prior to takeoff does lessen the thrill factor a bit.

3. The title sequence in Thunderball is what all later title sequences are copying. With the prior movies doing some interesting visuals on the screen, it is Thunderball that brings us the naked women silhouette motif. Maurice Binder had certainly worked in the film industry prior to James Bond, but the sequence in this movie is what made him famous among cinephiles.

4. Fiona Volpe is a knockout. Every scene she's in commands the viewers attention be on her. She steals every moment.

5. We will talk about this a little later, but for now I will just briefly say the underwater filming is exquisite. It gets a little tedious after so long, but in short samples it really is a marvel to watch.

6. I love it when James Bond goads the villain in conversation by purposefully hinting at things. In this film Bond does it during the gambling scene by mentioning SPECTRE to Largo, but passes it off as meaning something else. I also like that he bests Largo in every hand at chemin de fer.

7. Q in the field! I'm not sure which I like more, scenes in Q's lab where we get to see the different gadgets his team is working on or Q being annoyed at having to be in the field. I probably just like seeing Q in general. He is always a delight.

8. "That gun. Looks more fitting for a woman." "You know much about guns, Mr. Bond." "No. I know a little about women."

9. The Palmyra night raid is a forgotten, but enjoyable, sequence. It shows Bond having to combine stealth as a spy and action when things go wrong. As the series goes on we don't get a ton of actual spying in this spy franchise, so it is always a pleasant sight when it happens.

10. The Kiss Kiss Club is a reference to what was supposed to be the main theme song, titled Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It was originally recorded by Shirley Bassey but due to syncing issues in the title sequence they needed a longer version and Bassey was no longer available. So they got Dionne Warwick to re-record it. I love Bassey's performance, but actually prefer Warwick's version. The story goes that the producers didn't want a song that didn't have the name of the film in the lyrics so they ended up scrapping the whole thing and going with Tom Jones' title song we now know. Barry was going to place the Warwick version of the song at the end of the film during the credits, but Bassey ended up suing and audiences missed out entirely.

11. The technical work and behind-the-scenes information regarding the underwater battle sequence between Largo's men and the U.S. coast guard is actually more interesting than what we see on the screen, but that's coming from someone who has seen Thunderball at least 20 times. By the time we reach this fight we've seen so much underwater filming it just sort of drags on, but when the film was originally released this kind of thing was revolutionary.

12. Ignoring the rear projection video, the last fight between Bond and Largo's men on the Disco Volante is pretty great. It definitely reminds me of the train fight in From Russia with Love, but tweaks it with more space and more enemies.

13. The balloon-airplane rescue has constantly been looked at with humor and sideways glances, but then Christopher Nolan does it for Batman in The Dark Knight and nobody bats an eye. You just remember, James Bond came up with this crazy exit strategy first.

25 Days of Bond (Day 3)

We've come to the template for what future 007 movies would strive to look like. Goldfinger was where the Bond formula was perfected as it had a great blend of action, humor, gadgets, cars, girls, and villainy. For the longest time this movie was my second favorite, but over the last few years I've come to the realization that the sluggish plodding of the third quarter of the film doesn't do the entire film any favors and it has dropped a bit in my overall rankings. Here is why I still consider it to be one of the best.

1. This is what a pre-title sequence should be in a Bond film. I want it to be its own mission unrelated to the primary plot to come. Also, wearing a white tuxedo underneath a wetsuit is brilliant.

2. Like the entirety of the film being the template for the Bond formula, the theme song belted by Shirley Bassey has become the quintessential formula for Bond theme songs. It is what the future songs are measured up to. There is a reason Bassey was brought back for future themes.

3. For the most part Bond movies aren't considered cinematic art and they don't really do a ton of technically proficient shots, but the opening tracking shot following the title sequence that ends on the diver and then cuts to him in the water is great movement of the camera.

4. Hello Jill Masterson!

5. We get our first Q Branch scene and the introduction of one of the most iconic film cars of all time. Throughout the series we are going to see Q's lab so many times and this one is just a great start for what will become a staple scene in the series. The Aston Martin DB5 is one of my favorite vehicles and when asked the question if you have all the money in the world what would you buy this car (with the additional extras from Q included) is always on the list.

6. In the novel Bond playing golf with Goldfinger is overly long and much of it unnecessary. Yet the film's version of Bond cheating the cheater is perfectly executed.

7. Don't think too hard about Oddjob's hat as it isn't very consistent with how it is used throughout the movie, but when he demonstrates his abilities on the statue I immediately see what a formidable adversary he will be. We've already seen Oddjob (or at least we assume its Oddjob based on the silhouette) knock our hero out with one fierce karate chop to the back of the neck, so seeing how deadly he can be from a distance as well shows that he will be a force to be reckoned with.

8. "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die."

9. It could make sense that Goldfinger would build miniature models of Fort Knox in order to plan out Operation Grandslam, but to build it beneath the floor and need to move billiard tables around and close blast doors/windows is completely absurd. And I love every minute of the whole thing.

10. There is something so American and endearing about Felix Leiter being at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant while he waits on 007 to save the day. As a moviegoer in the United States I should probably be offended that the filmmakers just assumed we all eat out at fast food restaurants, but then I actually remind myself that the majority of my meals are eaten out at fast food restaurants.

11. The final battle between Bond and Oddjob inside the vault at Fort Knox, while not as visceral and claustrophobic as the train fight in From Russia with Love, is a suspenseful sequence that truly has the viewer wondering how Bond is going to triumph. We've seen Oddjob's pure strength in karate chops and golf ball crushing and his deadliness with the hat has also been on display in earlier scenes. Now it all comes together in a sequence that ups the stakes with a ticking nuclear time bomb. I even love how the viewer is tricked into thinking how Oddjob will be beaten with Bond grabbing Oddjob's hat but not utilizing it the way we thought he would.

25 Days Of Bond (Day 2)

My journey through the James Bond universe continues with the second film in the series, From Russia with Love. While fans of the 007 movies might roll their eyes at this, but Bond's second filmed mission is my favorite. While a popular, quite frequently top-rated choice among the fandom and critics for best movie in the series, there is a reason for it. From Russia with Love is the most reality-based spy film of the entire lot but it still includes some of the fantastical elements that make a James Bond film. Here are some of the reasons why I love it so much and no other film in the franchise have quite lived up to it.

1. We get the introduction of the pre-title sequence where something fantastic happens. In some cases it is one of the most thrilling action sequences of the entire movie. This one is also the beginning of a Bond trope where the filmmakers attempt to make us believe 007 could possibly be dead.

2. Another interesting title sequence that gives proper credit to those who worked on the movie, but this time we get the introduction of a female body being on display, which will become another trope of the series. I've always loved watching the credits  projected onto the body of a scantily clad belly dancer, which is a link to one of the filming locations.

3. It's Blofeld in the handsy flesh. This is the first time we get a peek at SPECTRE's number one, but it will be a few more films before we get a proper introduction to Bond's nemesis; or the author of all his pain.

4. Not that I would ever want to be a mercenary for an evil organization, but any job interview that includes brass knuckles is certainly not for me.

5. We get the return of a Bond girl, which doesn't really happen in these movies. Sylvia Trench is a little whinier this time around, but still quite a knockout in her bikini wanting some alone time with James.

6. Q!!! We get our first onscreen appearance of Desmond Llewelyn, who plays the Quartermaster,  equipment officer, or more affectionately known as Q. Mr. Llewelyn would go on to play this beloved character in a total of 17 films and sadly passed away in a car crash after filming The World is not Enough. Some of the best scenes and comedic banter are found in the Q scenes. This one is certainly not the greatest in the series, but it does give us a glimpse at the coming ingenious gadgets to be seen in future films.

7. I mentioned this in my previous post about Dr. No, but when John Barry elected to play the James Bond theme song is a head-scratcher in these early outings. The theme song is blaring as Bond checks into his hotel room and investigates the room for bugs (electronic, not the bed variety).

8. Kerim Bey is one of the allies who are most remembered in the series and usually at the top of fans' favorite lists. Any character who installs a submarine periscope in a Russian embassy has to be respected and loved.

9.  This is a sexist, misogynistic viewpoint, but that fight between the two gypsy women is great. They are fierce, savage, and extremely sexy as they try to kill one another with their bare hands. The menace and hatred the two actresses display can be understood even without understanding what they are saying in the scene. Bond says it best when he states, "I think I've got it without the subtitles."

10. Another gypsy fight! This action sequence is fine on its own, but what makes it stand out is how the henchman, Donald "Red" Grant, is playing Bond's guardian angel and the audience isn't really sure why. Although the audience is ahead of Bond in regard to SPECTRE's plot, we don't know everything and it is still a mystery as to why Grant is helping his foe at this point in the story.

11. Speaking of Grant, the blond-haired, menacingly mute strongman as a henchman becomes a trope throughout the series, but Robert Shaw is certainly a bona fide actor who sets the standard for those who come after him.

12. "Thank you, but I think my mouth is too big." "No, it's just the right size. For me that is." This scene has become the one that all potential Bond actors screen test for when trying out for the role.

13. Tatiana Romanova is one of my favorite primary Bond girls from an easy-on-the-eyes aspect. Although the character is certainly more three-dimensional than a lot of Bond girls later in the series, she still doesn't have much agency of her own. That being said, when she introduces herself to Bond in just a black velvet choker or while playing the part of Mrs. Somerset and she shows up in her blue negligee, yowza!

14. Train travel is something I romanticize and would like to do more of, but it really isn't done much in the United States. I certainly will take a train if ever traveling through Europe and rent a sleeping car so I can have the true James Bond experience.

15. Passcodes and secret messages need to be done in more Bond films, and not as a joke or something made light of. I enjoy when the this spy series actually does some spy stuff, like when Bond sets up the traps in his hotel room from Dr. No or the secret code phrases from this one.

16. Grant pretending to be British and calling Bond "old man" constantly always makes me laugh.

17. Okay, we've made it. The confrontation in the train compartment between Bond and Grant. This is not only my favorite scene in this movie, but probably my favorite scene in the entire franchise. From the moment Grant knocks Bond out and he lays out the nefarious plot to Bond outwitting and outfighting him, the scene is suspenseful and action packed. The sound design with breaking the window to allow for the outside noise of the train going down the tracks is a brilliant piece of filmmaking. The fight sequence is brutal and makes me wish today's fight sequences would have less quick cutting and choreographed moves. While this fight is certainly choreographed in the same way as today's films, it has a much more visceral feeling to it. It's more of a brawl than a fight. The enclosed space certainly helps with building the suspense. All later train fights try to be what this is but none of them ever quite get there.

18. Following the train fight you think the film is over and they will wrap things up, but you get a few more brief action sequences. While they aren't anything quite as spectacular as what came before, they certainly don't feel tacked on and it doesn't drag the ending out. They are simply bonus moments to watch Bond be an awesome spy and hero.

19. Oh Blofeld, always the trickster.

20. Another love-making in a boat ending!

25 Days Of Bond Begins

Every time a new James Bond movie is released I prepare for the event with a ritual of watching all the previous official 007 movies. Today is the start of that marathon as I amp myself up for the upcoming No Time to Die.

I mentioned this event in the morning carpool with the boys on our way to school drop off and Jack asked what I liked about my upcoming favorite in the series, From Russia with Love. That got me to thinking about posting my favorite thing in each Bond movie as I watch them during the 25 days of Bond. Some days it will be a laundry list of things. Other days I will be happy to get to five items that make it enjoyable (I'm looking at you The Man with the Golden Gun). Without further delay, here are some great things about Dr. No.

1. The introduction of a lot of things in the Bond series, including, but not necessarily limited to, the James Bond theme song, an interesting credit sequence that doesn't just list the names of the people who worked on the film, James Bond himself, a deformed villain who is hoisted by their own petard, a bevy of beautiful women, gambling, and thrilling action.

2. Speaking of that credit sequence, it is the least Bond-like of all the ones that would come later, but it has a really great swinging 60s vibe to it.

3. Sylvia Trench, the introduction of our hero and high-stakes gambling all combined. While not considered an iconic Bond girl by any means, Sylvia Trench is the first lady to interact with our protagonist, 007, while gambling late at night. She also has one of the sexiest moments in the film as she seduces Bond instead of the other way around, which would become the norm later in the film and series.

4. The James Bond theme song playing at the most unlikely times. In today's movies the action theme comes in during exciting climaxes or introductory scenes of our hero. However, in Dr. No the James Bond theme can be heard several times throughout, including during traveling and walking scenes. Our hero is simply walking through the airport and you are treated to the familiar tune. He does nothing exciting, nothing any other person isn't doing in the scene, but the theme gives us a feeling that this guy, the guy we are focused on is someone to watch.

5. Jack Lord as Felix Leiter. The guy who went on to star in the original Hawaii Five-0 is our first Felix Leiter, Bond's American counterpart and, at least in the books, best friend. Lord only starred the one time as Felix in this movie and the story goes that the producers didn't want someone rivaling Sean Connery in the looks department in future outings. So, we only get Jack Lord the one time, which is a shame as he was pretty remarkable for such a bit part.

6. But the really memorable ally in the field is Quarrel. Usually not at the top of anyone's list of favorite Bond ally, but always in the top half.

7. The spycraft in this movie is as close to realistic as you are going to get, partly due to being the first in the series and partly due to Bond simply being a detective throughout most of the film. You get to see Bond set up some traps in his room in order to detect if he has been watched, but one of the most unforgettable scenes is when he sits in a dark room, sets up a bed to trick his foe, and waits to spring his trap.

8. While this isn't really something a modern audience appreciates as world travel and scenic locations are much more prevalent, the globe trotting was a draw for moviegoers. Setting the majority of the film in Jamaica and the Caribbean was a great idea for the producers since most audience members didn't get to see beautiful beaches like the ones in this movie

9. "That's a Smith and Wesson, and you've had your six."

10. That white bikini and the goddess filling it out. Whew! There is a reason author Ian Fleming inserted Ursula Andress into his later Bond adventure, On Her Majesty's Secret Service. And her walk up onto the beach is iconic.

11. I've always enjoyed this villain, Dr. No, more than he probably deserves. While he isn't memorable enough, fierce enough, or megalomaniacal enough, he has this sense of superiority while remaining cool as a cucumber no matter the annoyance. He is something of a prototype of Hugo Drax, who would show up later in the series and is certainly a much-loved villain.

12. It is ridiculous to have your enemy over for dinner, but this scene is my favorite in the entire film. The repartee between Bond and Dr. No is fantastic.

13. Ending the film in a boat with Bond and the main female ready for some post-mission victory love making. Anyone who has watched the 007 movies knows this is a frequent trope the producers go to when ending their film.

I know that few people have the time or fortitude to watch 25 Bond movies in 25 days, but I certainly hope when you do get around to watching Dr. No you like it as much as I do. It was my introduction into the Bond universe and I've been hooked on the character ever since seeing it when I was 17.